William Jewell College is scheduled to implement a campus-wide emergency alert system that will provide instant cell phone communication to all members of the college community who choose to be a part of the network.

The college has contracted with an outside provider to supply a text-messaging alert system that is scheduled to be available to campus users in January. The system will be reserved exclusively for two specific scenarios: school closings for day classes due to inclement weather and emergency situations that are in progress on the campus.

“The safety and well-being of our students and the entire campus community is our first priority,” said Dr. David Sallee, president of William Jewell College. “The new system will allow us to harness technology for the purpose of disseminating accurate and current information instantly should the need arise.”

Members of the William Jewell community can choose to sign up for the new system through a link on the college’s website or by sending a text message from their phone to a special phone number that will be provided. Community members will be directed to a customized landing page containing registration information.

In addition to the text-messaging alert system, a new key card access system is scheduled to be implemented in the residence halls at the beginning of the spring semester in January. The new system will allow designated college employees in facilities management or student affairs to lock down residence halls automatically from a central location. Under these emergency circumstances, key cards are deactivated and only designated administrative personnel will be able to unlock the facilities from the outside.